Pastrana’s back

But it’s been a tough year. I’ve was sick a lot early on. I’ve been off antibiotics for about six months now, which is great. And I’ve had a lot other injuries, including my wrist and knees.

I’ve matured, and I’ve learned so much about my body. I think it will help me in the long run. My health is good now. My legs are good. I’m looking forward to having a good year in 2003!

In professional sports you have to deal with pain and injury, and still perform. How do you perform week-in and week-out in a sport that is so demanding?

Travis: Any sport can be a challenge. But motocross is even more so, don’t you think? Part of the week-in, week-out routine is dealing with the pain of bruises, sprains, and bumps. Motocross is tough even when you don’t fall.

It’s obvious when you fall and break your femur – you are going to be out for a while. But if you want to win a championship, you have to deal with the bruises, sprains, and bumps that happen all the time. Maybe you’ll have to deal with more serious injury too. Look at RC – he broke a bone in his hand at the very first round.

Motocross is a tough sport. But that’s also part of what makes it so great. If you are going to win a championship, you have to persevere through a lot of different things.

How are you preparing for a new season?

Travis: I’m doing a lot of what I’ve done in the past, but I’m also modifying things a bit. I’m trying to spend more time on the bike.

And with my work outs, instead of training all day, I’m working harder, but making sure I get time to rest as well.

A lot of fans only see you on the weekends. What do you want them to know about you?

Travis: That’s true, most people only see us on the weekends racing. If they see us only that one day, they think we might only work one day per week, and it looks easy. Well, for me, the actual racing is the easy part.

Racing right now is my whole life, and every day is devoted to being the best I can be. What you do during the week is going to show on the weekend. Racing is the fun part (winks).

So many kids are aware of who you are, and what you do. They want to be like you. Any words of wisdom you’d like to give them?